Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Catasauqua, PA 18032

Catasauqua: median income $81,098, home value $222,700, $186/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Britain, CT 06052 89%155$80,506$260,000$179 pricier homes ($37K more) · less walkable
Palmyra, NJ 08065 87%51$89,574$234,800$213 newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55107 86%939$74,531$269,600$199 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14220 82%229$70,963$186,200$177 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Covington, KY 41016 82%493$71,172$173,500$185 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 81%657$73,427$235,700$216 larger · newer homes
Pawtucket, RI 02861 80%230$83,411$315,400$252 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14217 80%237$73,800$207,500$195 larger
Gloucester City, NJ 08030 79%56$63,384$179,200$196 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents · more renters
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 79%52$83,729$208,800$222 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Albany, NY 12209 79%162$89,390$217,100$168 younger residents
East Rochester, NY 14445 79%199$73,625$155,300$191 cheaper homes ($67K less) · more renters
Merchantville, NJ 08109 78%53$90,242$252,000$222 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08629 77%49$82,646$182,400$183 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19804 77%65$79,701$264,100$219 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Duluth, MN 55808 77%933$62,031$174,200$160 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · less walkable
Schiller Park, IL 60176 77%649$69,696$275,000$219 pricier homes ($52K more) · more renters · newer homes
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 76%55$80,833$300,500$259 pricier homes ($78K more) · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19809 76%62$81,288$314,900$217 pricier homes ($92K more) · newer homes
Cudahy, WI 53110 76%657$66,719$216,500$203 larger · more renters · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53219 76%664$70,388$203,900$211 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Syracuse, NY 13209 75%172$68,138$161,400$190 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 75%936$88,386$281,700$196 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Schenectady, NY 12304 74%168$69,235$179,200$226 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more renters
Oneida, NY 13421 74%168$65,752$162,000$136 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents · more single-family homes

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.